Condiment shaker



July 19, 1932. c. F. DE GNER CONDIMENT SHAKER Filed April 22, 1932 11x1 VENTUR UHAELES EUEENEE.

" flTTORNEY of hollow Patented July 19, 1932 UNITED STATES CHARLES I. DEGNER, 01E CHICAGO, ILLINOIS CONDIMENT SHAKER Application filed April 22, 1932. Serial No. 606,817.

The invention relates to condiment shakers, generally employed as salt and pepper shakers in dining table use, but capable of use n other relations.

It resides in a tubular container, closed permanently at its upper end, and closed at its bottom by a removable plug which may be withdrawn for the purpose of filling or replenishing the container. The upper end or top of the container is provided with a plurality of perforations, which, in separate shakers, may vary in diameter to accord with the desired use of the device. 0

The body of the tubular container is composed of sections which decrease progressively in diameter, from the bottom to the top, so as to present interiorly a like succession sections of progressively decreasing diameter, and so form at the uncture of the adjoining sections, an annular shoulder, the purpose of which is to break up the salt, should the latter become congested through the absorption of moisture, evaporation of moisture, or other cause tending to produce such condition.

I have found that the useof a certain material in the manufacture of the container is conducive to a free flowing of the contents, due to conditions present which I am not now able to explain.

Having thus outlined the invention, 1- will now describe the construction illustrated,cand in the appended claims will point out the novelty residing therein.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a device constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a View in side elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the same.

Fig. 4 is a vertical central sectional view of the device; and

Fig. 5 is a view in elevation of the screw plug employed to close the opening in the bottom of the container.

In the drawing, the condiment shaker is n illustrated as a tubular container A, the open bottom of which is closed by a screw plug B, and the closed or to end C of which is provided with a plurality of perforations as at 10, through which the contents may be sifted in the usual manner.

The tubularcontainer A is formed of a plurality of sections 11, 12, 13 and 14, joined integrally to constitute a one-piece structure, and progressively decreasing in diameter from the base 15, to the upper end of the same. The thickness of the walls of the several sections is approximately the same, so that there is produced interiorly of the casing, a like succession of hollow sections of reduced diameter, proportioned to the external diameters of such sections. In this manner, the interior is provided at the juncture of the meeting line of adjoining sections with annular shoulders 16, 17 and 18, each of which overhangs the next lower section of larger diameter.

The opening in the base 15 is threaded for the reception of the inset plug B, the latter being threaded on its periphery as at 19, to engage the interiorly threaded base. The plug B is hollowed out at its underside, as shown in Fig. 4, and is provided with a transversely extending rib 20, constituting a means whereby the plug may be screwed into position, to close the lower end of the container, and unscrewed therefrom, to'permit filling or replenishment of the container with the condiment to be sifted through the perforations 10 at the top of the same. The plug B is formed preferably with a flat top surface, and with a cylindrical end 21, which latter is adapted to enter the hollow of the section 11.

The line joining the lower end of the section 11 to the base 15, is the weakest part of the structure, and I guard against possible fracture therein by providing some vertically standing spaced projections 22, which 0 more firmly unite the base to the said section.

The openings 10 at the top of the shaker may be varied in size, in the different shakers, to adapt the devices to be used as dispensers of condiments of different characteris- Table salt has a great aflinityfor moist air, and when'socharged, is converted into a mass having an objectionable cohesion of its granular substance, which will prevent the flow of the salt throu h the erforations, when movement of the contents therethrough, and it is desired to ma euse o the device. Under a lower section of larger diameter, with a such conditions, agitation of a shaker in the plurality of intermediate sections of progresdirection of its longitudinal axis will cause sively reduced diameter, whereby there is prothe packed salt to be thrown against the sevduced upon the inside of the container, a 7 eral interior shoulders, with the result that succession of annular shoulders at the ends the mass will be broken up and the cohesion of the adjoining sections, serving to break destroyed, so that the anular substance will up a mass formed within the container, and then run freely throug the openings 10. a removable plu closing the bottom of the I have found the material known in comsame to permit filling and replenishment of 7,

merce as bakelite, particularly well adaptthe container.

for use in the manufacture of the eon- In testimony whereof, I have signed my tainer and its closing lplug, inasmuch as such name at Chicago, this 11th day of April, 1932. material may readily e moulded into the de- CHARLES F. DEGNER.

sired shape. Bakelite is not liable to easy It fracture, and manifests a peculiar property, in that it retards the efiect of moisture upon the condiment, partcularly in the case of salt, whereby in the use of such material the tendency o the condiment to pack down or be- 85 come solidified, is greatly reduced.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Pattent of the United States, is:

i 1. A condiment shaker formed as a tubuo lar containe perforated at its closed upper end to ermit movement of the contents therethroug and a removable plug closing the bottom end of the same to permit filling and replenishment of the container, the said contamer being constituted integrally of a plu- -rality of sections of progressively reduced diameter, whereby there is produced upon the inside of the container a succession of annular shoulders at the ends of the adjoining sections, serving to break up a mass formed within the container.

2. A condiment shaker formed as a tubular container perforated at its closed upper end to permit movement of the contents therethrough, and a removable plug threaded into the bottom end of the same to permit filling and replenishment of the container, the said container being constituted integrally of a 45 plurality of sections of progressively reduced 1 0 diameter, whereby there is produced upon the inside of the container a succession of annular shoulders at the ends of the adjoining sections, serving to break up a mass formed within the container.

3. A condiment shaker formed as a tubular container having an upper section of reduced diameter and perforated at its end to allow movement of the contents therethrough, and

55 a lower section of larger diameter, with an intermediate section of reduced diameter, whereb there is produced a succession of annular s oulders at the ends of the adjoining sections, serving to break up a mass formed 9 within the container, and a removable plug closing the bottom of the same to permit filling and replenishment of the container.

4. A condiment shaker formed 'as a tubular container having an upper section of reduced diameter and perforated at its end to allow 

